University of Minnesota programs prepare high school students for college, improving graduation rates and reducing debt

Several educational programs offer Minnesota students the opportunity to explore college classwork and earn college credit while still in high school. These programs have been linked to reducing student debt, as well as improved student retention and graduation rates for program alums that enroll at the University of Minnesota. The University’s involvement in these programs also celebrates both the education and outreach components of its mission, directly engaging young Minnesotans on the University’s campuses and in their home communities in ways that can improve their lives in meaningful ways.

In its Thursday meeting, the Board of Regents’ Mission Fulfillment Committee will discuss two such programs for high school juniors and seniors: Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and College in the Schools. In addition to reviewing the latest data from these programs, the committee will also provide input on opportunities for continued support.

PSEO is hosted on all five of the University’s campuses, welcoming motivated students to challenge themselves academically in classes that count for both high school and college credit. The program is a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education, which provides funding to cover admitted students’ tuition, fees and textbooks. The University’s PSEO program serves approximately 750 Minnesota students annually.

Students can earn college credits without coming to campus by participating in College in the Schools, which brings courses from four of the University’s campuses (Crookston, Duluth, Morris and the Twin Cities) into the classrooms of more than 140 partner high schools. Engaging students where they live and learn every day, College in the Schools offers courses for students at a variety of academic levels, for multilingual students and for diverse learning styles, abilities and backgrounds. Among comparable programs in Minnesota, College in the Schools engages the most high school students – nearly 20,000 statewide. The University’s Twin Cities campus runs the largest such program in Minnesota, with more than 10,000 participating students.

The Board is also expected to:

• Learn about the University’s research about pollinators and the role this research plays in supporting agriculture and rural economies during a visit to the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences in St. Paul.
• Hear President Gabel’s plan for the University’s next steps on policy recommendations regarding future renamings, work the Board charged the President to address.
• Act on the President’s Recommend Six-Year Capital Plan, which includes a recommendation on the University’s 2020 state capital request, as well as the proposed purchase of the Shiners Hospital site in Minneapolis.

For more information, including future meeting times, visit regents.umn.edu.